Writerly Ways
The theme of this post is doing your due diligence. I did not, for example, with that wedding anthology a few weeks back and totally missed the homophobic coding in the language. Needless to say I'm not submitting to that one. I am, however, working on that other wedding horror story (I'm at the I hate everything I write stage) and I went back to look. It says nothing about LGBT so knowing I'm not sending in things as Jana I used her email to ask. Yes you can send LGBT weddings to this one. I wish they had put that in the open call but there's not really a nice way to say that but I'll try.
Another place you need to do your due diligence is in editing. I know as a self publishing author you have to decide how to spend your money in getting your book out there. It all costs, marketing, editors, cover artists. How do you decide where the money goes? I don't know because I haven't done it yet but if you are, you need to read up on it, watch some YouTubes, something.
I picked up a self pubbed urban fantasy at Tsubasacon with an amazing cover check it out here. I see others had the same issue as me. I don't even see a credit page in my version but they claim there was an editor. This is twice in recent months that I've picked up a self pub with claims of an editor.
That leads me to the next due diligence, check out the editor you hire. If either of these books honestly had one, that editor sucks. The above mentioned book has the worst editor ever if they exist. The book has interesting ideas and characters and it hurts that this book series will fail in its current state. The tenses change from sentence to sentence. You know how some people sprinkle commas like glitter? This author did it with periods. PERIODS. Just randomly in it. I'm not even sure how a reader (which most authors are) gets grammar this badly messed up (tenses maybe but periods. just jammmed in. wherever. like i just did??
So how about all of you? Do you have an editor you love and trust? How about a cover artist? Voice actors? Feel free to share them. It will help everyone.
OPEN CALLS
here is that wedding horror open call again
Elder Things Expeditions Lovecraftian open call, pays pro rates
Solar Punk Magazine January 2025 Window also pays very well
Plasma Pulp Retro-future adventures fun theme but the call ends this weekend coming and it's royalties...
Space Opera Stories Why have I stopped writing space operas?
Modern Mummies
Silk and Foxglove - A BIPOC AnthologyEco-horror BIPOC authors only
Heartlines Spec Spring 2025 Issue Speculative fiction focused on long-term friendships and relationships
Foofaraw 2025 Stories inspired by either of the definitions of “foofaraw”: A great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant OR an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation, as on a piece of clothing, a building, etc.
5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in January 2025
wildscape. literary journal: Now Seeking Submissions
41 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for January 2025
From Around the Web
The Power of White Space on the Page
How to Deepen a Story with Thematic Echoes
Should You Hire a Professional Designer for Your Book Interior?
The One Simple Tool that Helped Me Sustain a Writing Practice
How to Make an Author Website in 8 Steps
How to Write a Book Series
What’s the Difference Between a Preface, Foreword, and Introduction?
From Betty
Why Real Events Aren’t Always Believable in Fiction
A Storyteller’s Guide to Criticism
Are Blank Characters Too Blanking Blank?
The Difference Between Relatable and Mediocre Heroes
The Three Ways to Keep Your Story Short Note to self memorize that
Which Is Worse: Narrative Distance or Passive Voice?
In Search of the Well-Crafted Sentence
Charting Your Course: How should you publish?
The Problem With Prologues
Should You Write a Prequel?
How to Deepen a Story with Thematic Echoes
How to Find Your Writing Niche and Connect with the Right Readers
Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Knowing About a Cover-Up
The Mirror and the Arrow
Are Misconceptions and Old Ideas Burdening Your Writing Life?
4 Ways for Writers to Stay Committed to New Year's Resolutions
Another place you need to do your due diligence is in editing. I know as a self publishing author you have to decide how to spend your money in getting your book out there. It all costs, marketing, editors, cover artists. How do you decide where the money goes? I don't know because I haven't done it yet but if you are, you need to read up on it, watch some YouTubes, something.
I picked up a self pubbed urban fantasy at Tsubasacon with an amazing cover check it out here. I see others had the same issue as me. I don't even see a credit page in my version but they claim there was an editor. This is twice in recent months that I've picked up a self pub with claims of an editor.
That leads me to the next due diligence, check out the editor you hire. If either of these books honestly had one, that editor sucks. The above mentioned book has the worst editor ever if they exist. The book has interesting ideas and characters and it hurts that this book series will fail in its current state. The tenses change from sentence to sentence. You know how some people sprinkle commas like glitter? This author did it with periods. PERIODS. Just randomly in it. I'm not even sure how a reader (which most authors are) gets grammar this badly messed up (tenses maybe but periods. just jammmed in. wherever. like i just did??
So how about all of you? Do you have an editor you love and trust? How about a cover artist? Voice actors? Feel free to share them. It will help everyone.
OPEN CALLS
here is that wedding horror open call again
Elder Things Expeditions Lovecraftian open call, pays pro rates
Solar Punk Magazine January 2025 Window also pays very well
Plasma Pulp Retro-future adventures fun theme but the call ends this weekend coming and it's royalties...
Space Opera Stories Why have I stopped writing space operas?
Modern Mummies
Silk and Foxglove - A BIPOC AnthologyEco-horror BIPOC authors only
Heartlines Spec Spring 2025 Issue Speculative fiction focused on long-term friendships and relationships
Foofaraw 2025 Stories inspired by either of the definitions of “foofaraw”: A great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant OR an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation, as on a piece of clothing, a building, etc.
5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in January 2025
wildscape. literary journal: Now Seeking Submissions
41 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for January 2025
From Around the Web
The Power of White Space on the Page
How to Deepen a Story with Thematic Echoes
Should You Hire a Professional Designer for Your Book Interior?
The One Simple Tool that Helped Me Sustain a Writing Practice
How to Make an Author Website in 8 Steps
How to Write a Book Series
What’s the Difference Between a Preface, Foreword, and Introduction?
From Betty
Why Real Events Aren’t Always Believable in Fiction
A Storyteller’s Guide to Criticism
Are Blank Characters Too Blanking Blank?
The Difference Between Relatable and Mediocre Heroes
The Three Ways to Keep Your Story Short Note to self memorize that
Which Is Worse: Narrative Distance or Passive Voice?
In Search of the Well-Crafted Sentence
Charting Your Course: How should you publish?
The Problem With Prologues
Should You Write a Prequel?
How to Deepen a Story with Thematic Echoes
How to Find Your Writing Niche and Connect with the Right Readers
Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Knowing About a Cover-Up
The Mirror and the Arrow
Are Misconceptions and Old Ideas Burdening Your Writing Life?
4 Ways for Writers to Stay Committed to New Year's Resolutions